Technical Abstract:
The US Department of Defense system for personal protection of deployed personnel consists of wearing repellent on the skin and a permethrin-treated uniform to cover the rest of the body. Since 1991, treatment of combat uniforms with permethrin has been done primarily in the field using a 2 gallon sprayer, a small spray can, or an Individual Dynamic Absorption (IDA) kit. Since 2009, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army) have transitioned from 50/50 nylon/cotton uniforms to uniforms comprised of nylon, rayon and fire resistant materials such as para-aramid or meta-aramid. These uniforms cannot be treated with permethrin in the field and must therefore be treated at the factory level.
Unlike the 50:50 nylon:cotton uniform fabrics, the flame retardant uniform fabrics are constructed more open for breathability to improve wearer comfort. As a result of the increased intersticial space between fibers, there is a greater probability that mosquitoes and other biting flies will bite through the fabric. Incorporation of permethrin in the fabric significantly reduces the probability that a mosquito can bite through the uniform. Results from bite protection studies will be covered in this presentation. The emphasis will be on the performance of the newest fire-resistant uniforms; these include the US Marine Corps Enhanced Fire Resistant Combat Ensemble (EFRCE) and the US Army Fire Resistant Army Combat Uniform (FRACU) and FRACU type III.